Match-box.



No. 788,370. PATENTBD APR. 25, 1905 T. H. PAGE. MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21,1904.

. WWII UNITED STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. PAGE; OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM H. BURT, OF LAVERGNE. TENNESSEE.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,370, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed October 21, 1904. $erial No. 229,462.

To all whom it warty concern:

' Be it known that I, THOMAS H. PACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in matclrboxes, and relates more particularly to that class used for advertising purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a match-box of this character in the form of a human figure and in which the pressing on the nose releases the match-carrying receptacle and the same is automatically thrown outwardly so that a match or matches may be readily withdrawn.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple device of this character.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved match-box. Fig. 2 is a side view with the match carrying receptacle thrown outward ly,so that the matches may be removed. Fig. 3 is a side view with one of the side plates removed, showing the interior mechanism. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View.

Referring now to the drawings, A and B represent the two side plates, which, as shown,

are made in the shape of a human figure and are preferably made of heavy cardboard, so that any printing may be placed thereon for the purpose of advertising, although, if desired, the same could be made of wood, metal, or any other material. It will also be understood that the same could be made in the form of any animal or other figure without departing from the spirit of my invention. The said plates A and B between their upper ends have a block O, which is in the form of a cap and to which is secured the said plates, thus spac ing the same apart, as hereinafter more fully described. The lower ends of the plates have between the same the block D, which extends below the same and is in the form of a foot and having the appearance of extending from within the trousers of the figure. The plates A and B are also rigidly secured to this block D,

and the two plates are held parallel with each 5 other a distance apart, thus leaving room between the same for the match-receptacle and other operating mechanism. The block D, as shown, extends upwardly a considerabledis- Y tance and for the purpose of strengthening the 5 5 same, and to form a solid-appearing figure. Stationarily held between the forward part of said plate is an elongated block E, which extends upward and conformsto the shape of the front edge of the plates, thus also forming a solid-appearingframe,and said block is rigidly secured therebetween in any desired manner. The upper end of said block E is provided with an inwardly-extending portion F, which has its upper edge F provided with a circular recess f, which, as shown, has its greatest diameter below the edge F thereof, the block E ending sufiiciently below the block C, so as to have the space G for the oscillating block H. The said block H has at its front edge an outwardly-extending portion H, which extends beyond the platesA and B and forms the nose of the figure. The said block H is in reality a trigge r which holds the match-containing receptacle in its normal inward position. The said trigger is provided at its lower face with a downwardly-extending portion 7a, which is of a-shape to fit within the recess f, it being understood that the same is inserted in the recess from the side before one of the side plates are put on, and thus it is locked therein by said plate. This forms a ball-and-socket joint upon which said triggersis adapted to oscillate. The rear end of said trigger is provided with a downwardlyextending'member lb, which is normally held in the path of the outwardly-swinging match-containing receptacle 1 and normally holding the same in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. The said trigger, as shown, is held in its downward po- 9 sition by the elastic bands J, which has its lower end secured to the block E and its upper end secured to the trigger in the rear of the pivotal connection.

The block E is provided in its rear edge with a recess 6, which is of a shape like the recess f, and the match-containing receptacle I is provided with a projection 2', which is interlocked therein from the side before one of the plates is placed thereon. Thus the match-re- ,ceptacle is rocked or oscillated from said point.

Secured to the lower end of said receptacle is an elastic band K, which has its opposite end secured to the lower end of the plate E, and thus the tendency of said band is to throw the upper end of thev receptacle beyond the plate and expose the open upper end 1, containing the matches. While I have shown the trigger and the match-receptacle operated by elastic hands, it will be understood that the same could be operated by springs or any other desired means.

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen by forcing down upon the outer end of the trigger forming the nose the downwardly extending portion it is raised, thus allowing the match-containing receptacle to be thrown outwardly, and the matches may be removed therefrom. The outer edge of the trigger is beveled at L, so that it will be raised by the engagement of the match-receptacle, and thus the same will be locked in its inward position by simply forc- 'ing the same inward.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. A match-box, comprising side plates, blocks between said plates, an intermediate pivoted match-receptacle between said plates, an elastic connection between the inner lower end of said receptacle andone of said blocks, and a trigger for normally holding the receptacle in an inward position against said elastic connection, substantially as described.

2. A match-box, comprising side plates, blocks holding the same in their separated position, areceptacle between said plates, a balland-socket connection between said receptacle and one of said blocks, means normally tending to throw the receptacle into an outward position and locking means for normally holding the receptacle in an inward position between the plates, substantially as described.

3. A match-box, comprising side plates, blocks holding said plates in their separated ball-and-socket connection With'one of said blocks and having a downwardly-extending member adapted to engage and hold the receptacle in an inward position between the plates, substantially as described.

4. A match-box, comprising side plates, blocks holding the same in their separated position, a match-receptacle pivoted between said plates intermediate its ends, means normally tending to throw the receptacle in an outward position and locking means for normally holding the receptacle in an inward or closed position, substantially as described.

5. A match-box, comprising side plates, blocks holding the same in their separated position, a match-receptacle between said plates, a ball-and-sockct connection between said receptacle and one of said blocks, means normally tending to throw the receptacle in an outward position, and a trigger having aballand-socket connection with one of said blocks, and means carried by the trigger for holding the receptacle in an inward position, substantially as described.

6. A match-box, comprising plates in the form of human figures and spaced apart by blocks, a matchreceptacle pivoted to said block between the plates, intermediate its ends, an elastic connection between the lower end of said block and receptacle and normally tending to throw the upper end outwardly. and a cap pivoted between the upper end of said plates and having a downward-extending member adapted to engage the upper end of the receptacle and normally hold it in an inward position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. PACE.

Witnesses: T. (J. VVALFoRD, F. W. CUNNINGHAM. 

